Train the trainers

The need

Ensuring people with dementia receive high quality care, provided by appropriately trained professionals and carers, is essential to meeting the challenge of dementia. Where care is not of sufficient quality, it can have a negative impact for people with dementia, their families and carers.

However, there is currently too much variation in the quality of care provided to people with dementia. While there are many examples of excellent quality care, too often we hear about care (formal or informal) not being focused on meeting people's needs and failing to treat people with dignity and respect. One of the best ways to improve the quality of life of people with dementia and their families is training.

The training programme

ADI has developed a training package that is universal, but flexible enough to adapt to the local situation in different countries. The training package was developed with a group of experts from different countries identifying best practices from Alzheimer associations and other organisations around the world.

The training modules include: a brief overview of dementia, effective communication, understanding behaviour, and care worker issues and support services. At the completion of the programme, participants receive a certificate from ADI.

ADI had received a large number of requests for training programmes in the last few years from around the world. The programme is was piloted in Greece after receiving a grant from The Stavros Niarchos Foundation, one of the world's leading international philanthropic organisations.

Training has also successfully been conducted in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Dhaka, Bangladesh and Jakarta, Indonesia with the support of ADA Singapore, Alzheimer's Australia, Alzheimer's Australia Vic, Caregiver Asia and CIMB Niaga Bank.

By implementing this training in countries around the world, ADI has the opportunity to respond to the growing numbers of people with dementia by upskilling health professionals and family carers and members of the public who wish to gain a greater understanding.